Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Apple to change app data consent rules, German regulator says
Apple makes iPhones and iPads.
These devices ask people if apps can use their personal information for advertising.
This asking system is called App Tracking Transparency.
A group in Germany called the Federal Cartel Office checks that companies play fair.
They found that Apple's own apps got nicer questions than other apps.
Other apps got questions that made people less likely to say yes.
The German group said this was not fair.
Apple agreed to change the questions so they are the same for everyone.
Apple has four months to make the changes.
The new rules will last for seven years and will be watched by a special monitor.
Germany's Federal Cartel Office found Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework gave its own apps more favorable consent prompts than third-party developers.
Apple will change rules for how app developers can use personal data for targeted advertising on iPhones and iPads, closing a years-long investigation.
Consent pop-ups for third-party apps must be redesigned to remove discouraging language and symbols and made visually and linguistically neutral.
Apple has four months to implement the changes after the decision is served; commitments run for seven years and will be monitored by a trustee.
France and Italy have already fined Apple €150 million and €98.6 million, respectively, over the App Tracking Transparency framework.
- Who
- Apple and Germany's Federal Cartel Office (FCO)
- What
- Apple will change rules governing how app developers use personal data for targeted advertising on iPhones and iPads, including redesigning third-party consent pop-ups to be visually and linguistically neutral.
- When
- Announced on Monday; Apple has four months to implement the changes after the decision is served.
- Where
- Germany, where the FCO issued the decision; the changes will apply in almost all European Union countries.
- Why
- The FCO found Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework gave its own apps more favorable consent prompts than third-party developers, potentially breaching competition rules.
Regulator's stance
Apple's stance
Fairness of App Tracking Transparency prompts
Regulator's stance
The FCO found Apple's ATT framework gave its own apps more favorable consent prompts than third-party developers, potentially breaching competition rules.
Apple's stance
Apple said it believes the current ATT prompt is a clear, easy-to-understand and effective way to keep users in control of their data, an opinion it says is shared by German data protection authorities.
- Company
- Apple
- Regulator
- Federal Cartel Office (FCO), Germany
- Affected products
- iPhones and iPads
- Framework in question
- App Tracking Transparency
- Finding
- Apple's own apps received more favorable consent prompts than third-party apps
- Implementation deadline
- Four months after the decision is served
- Commitment duration
- Seven years, monitored by a trustee
- Prior fines over ATT
- €150 million (France), €98.6 million (Italy)
